End of an Era for Aisha Buhari’s Younger Brother

“Power truly is transient,” so the saying goes. This holds true for the younger brother of former First Lady Aisha Buhari, Ahmed Halilu. Halilu, who was appointed Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPM) in September 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been removed from his position by the current President, Bola Tinubu.

The recent directive from President Tinubu not only affected Halilu but also saw the removal of four other key executives from NSPM.

Halilu’s initial appointment as MD was a notable moment, attributed to the influence of his sister, the former First Lady, and the endorsement of the then Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Halilu, who brought over 23 years of banking experience to the role, was initially acting in this capacity following the resignation of his predecessor, Abbas Masanawa. His formal appointment was seen as a strategic move by the Buhari administration to ensure trusted hands managed critical national assets.

But despite his professional qualifications and experience, Halilu’s tenure was marred by the controversial currency redesign policy led by Emefiele. This policy, which NSPM played a significant role in implementing, faced widespread criticism for its negative impact on the economy and daily lives of Nigerians.

But it has to be said that throughout his time at NSPM, Halilu was perceived positively on social media. He maintained a relatively clean image, with no controversy strong enough to significantly tarnish his reputation.

But that is all in the past. Now that things are harsher and there is no shoulder to bear the rains and the storms, shifts will naturally happen. His recent ordeal gives credence to his critics who have always opined that the time is coming when Halilu’s protective network may no longer be sufficient to shield him from consequences. That time is now.